Few candidates were able to name the biotic community correctly and state the characteristic feature. Candidates correctly named biotic factors and instruments used to measure them. Many candidates performed poorly in listing the adaptation of plants and animals.
The expected answers are:
(a) (i) Name of Community
Guinea Savanna/ Savanna/Savannah
(ii) Characteristic features of community
Plenty grass; scattered/few trees; trees with broad crowns; many herbivores/rodents/named herbivore/carnivore/named carnivore, Guinea fowl, grasshopper.
(b) (i) Abiotic factors
Rainfall; humidity; temperature; atmospheric pressure; wind; light intensity/sunlight; pH; Soil/Edaphic factors.
(ii) Instruments
Rain gauge, hygrometer, thermometer, barometer, anemometer, wind vane, pH meter, light meter/photometer.
(c) (i) Effects of rainfall
- when there is sufficient rainfall grasses grow taller; plenty grass and animals will abound;
- heavy rainfall leads to soil erosion/leaching/flooding;
- when there is scarcity of rainfall grasses dry up/wither and die;
- the animals emigrate/disperse/may die/aestivate.
(ii) Name of plant and animal
Plant: Grasses/ Elephant grass/Imperata/Guinea grass.
Animal: Lion/Hyena/Cheetah/Tiger/Leopard/Praying mantis/Spider/Snake
(d) (i) Characteristic features of plant and animal
Plant: turfted; underground stems; leaves have thick cuticle and sunken stomata
Animal: Presence of canine; good sense of smell/sight/hearing; strong jaws/mandibles; sharp claws/ muscular/powerful/strong limbs/legs.
(ii) Adaptations
Plant: Small leaves to reduce transpiration; underground stem for quick re-growth after fire/drought.
Animal: Muscular legs to run fast; strongly built for agility and speed; long canines and claws to grasp prey/ good sense of smell/sight/hearing to sight prey.